Il-Briefing 
 

Stop violence against women: EU accession to the Istanbul Convention 

MEPs will debate on the Istanbul Convention and on other measures to combat gender-based violence on Monday afternoon and vote on a resolution on Thursday.

On Monday 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women, MEPs will hold a plenary debate on the EU accession to the Istanbul Convention. They should urge member states that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so without delay and to take all necessary legislative and political action to stop violence against women and girls. The debate will be wrapped up by a resolution to be put to a vote on Thursday.

To mark this international day, the EP in Strasbourg will be lit up in orange on Monday evening.

Background

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.


Although the EU signed the Convention on 13 June 2017, seven member states still have not ratified it: Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia and the UK.

Procedure: Council and Commission statements (with resolution)

2019/2855(RSP)

Debate: Monday, 25 November

Vote: Thursday, 28 November